Mufasa’s seven-year master plan

By W.D.

The former Lion King Mufasa has a thorny road ahead of him. Elections to the throne will be called in 2020, and his son, Simba, will not be old enough to compete. When all his options are carefully weighed, he realises that he has only one logical path to assure Simba’s ascension to the throne. This fable attempts to explain that path.

Mufasa cannot contest for the crown (sometimes called the ‘executive presidency’) again, as the constitution of the land prevents him from doing so. Only an amendment to the constitution, which either removes the two-term limit or abolishes the executive presidency, could restore his chances of becoming the top executive in the Kingdom again. 

Yet constitutional reform seems highly improbable before 2020. There are too many animals in the Kingdom who need convincing. Thus Mufasa is unlikely to rely on constitutional reform to secure Simba’s future. His only option over the next two years is to work within the existing constitutional framework.

Mufasa’s only path to power is to become what they call the ‘prime minister’. The ‘prime minister’ is not quite a king, but is one of the most powerful animals within the Kingdom. Only the ‘prime minister’ has any real influence over the King. Even after losing his crown to the current King Rafiki, Mufasa has remained the most popular animal in the Kingdom. So capturing this secondary position may be the best-case scenario for Mufasa. 

However, the extent of his power as ‘prime minister’ depends on who occupies the throne. It is the King – the so-called ‘executive president’ – who ultimately wields real power. Mufasa must then ensure that a malleable animal is placed on the throne until Simba is ready to reign – an animal answerable to, and dependent on, Mufasa. 

Many urge Mufasa to support his wily brother Scar’s bid for the crown in 2020. Yet Mufasa is fearful of Scar’s plans. He does not trust Scar to make way for Simba when the time is right in 2025. In fact, he is almost certain that his son’s prospects will diminish significantly if Scar and his hyenas take the throne. 

The Kingdom is replete with rumours of bad blood between uncle and nephew. So Mufasa must ensure that Scar does not secure the crown in 2020. The only alternative is for Mufasa to find a malleable animal to occupy the throne between 2020 and 2025. He knows of only one.

King Rafiki was once hailed as the beast that ended the long and fearsome reign of lions in the Kingdom. Rafiki is a sly simian that has learnt to survive. He was once a top counsellor in Mufasa’s court. But when he realised he had no real future – because he was not a lion – he betrayed Mufasa and spectacularly defeated him. But now many years later, Rafiki’s position in the Kingdom has grown weak. He has a following of only 1.5 million animals among a voting population of over 11 million. In his desperation, he is willing to heed any animal that might support and protect him. His only hope is to secure a powerful and popular patron, and remain a caretaker king for another term. Mufasa’s path is crystal clear. He must seduce the same animal that once betrayed him. He must act fast, as many consider Rafiki and his 1.5 million followers to be kingmakers. Scar and a host of others vying for the throne in 2020 are sure to make overtures to Rafiki and promise to protect him from Mufasa’s wrath. 

But in a strange twist of fate, it is Mufasa’s and Rafiki’s incentives that align. Mufasa can only be a ‘prime minister’ under the present constitution; Rafiki can only be a president with a powerful and popular patron who cannot himself sit on the throne. 

Thus Mufasa has embarked on a seven-year master plan. Over the next two years, he must thwart Scar’s campaign to secure the crown. To do so, he must reunite with his sworn enemy Rafiki, and support his bid for a second term. 

In exchange for his patronage, Mufasa must secure the position of ‘prime minister’ in Rafiki’s court – a seemingly subordinate position, but nonetheless one from which he can control the crown. And when this period of symbiosis is over in 2025, Simba will be ready to rule the Kingdom. 

Mufasa imagines the day when Rafiki is disposed of and the promised son is anointed. The great feast at Simba’s coronation will surely feature monkey stew. For this is the day that Mufasa’s pride will finally be restored.